Anger that mums 'expected to have abortions' to avoid two-child benefits cap

Emma Ritch, executive director of Engender, said the two-child cap was largely based on US policies – which research showed had not changed the number of children born into families, increased abortions and “substantially impoverished” those affected.

The Tory Government expect mums will have abortions to avoid the two-child cap for tax credits, a Scottish charity claimed yesterday.

Engender’s executive director Emma Ritch hit out as charities told MSPs they want the cap – and the associated “rape clause” – to be abolished.

Engender, Scottish Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland have written to Department for Work and Pensions minister Damian Green raising a series of questions about the brutal policy, including how many pregnancies he expects to be terminated as a result.

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Ritch yesterday told Holyrood’s social security committee: “It seems to us, without a clear publication of any evidence or thinking on the part of the UK Government, that they are indeed expecting that women will terminate pregnancies that arise when they already have two children.

“I think that’s insupportable.”

She said the two-child cap was largely based on US policies – which research showed had not changed the number of children born into families, increased abortions and “substantially impoverished” those affected, leading to mothers being unable to afford nappies and food for their children.